Mike Monroe: Tony Parker returning tonight

An hour-and-a-half before tipoff for Friday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Spurs announced that All-Star point guard Tony Parker, out since spraining his left ankle on Nov. 7, would suit up for the game at AT&T Center.

Parker suffered a Grade 2 sprain of the left ankle as he drove the baseline and left his feet for a shot attempt in the first quarter of a game against the Miami Heat. The initial diagnosis was for Parker to be out for at least four weeks.

Parker missed only nine games, and the Spurs went 7-2 in those nine. He scored a career-high 55 points, high score by any NBA player this season, in the Spurs’ first victory, a 129-125 double-overtime triumph over the Minnesoa Timberwolves on Nov. 5.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich reported last week that Parker appeared to be ahead of schedule for a return to action. The 2007 NBA Finals MVP has been participating in practice activity for more than a week.

Manu Ginobili, the Spurs’ other All-Star guard, returned on Monday after missing the first 12 games of the season. Ginobili had off-season surgery to repair a left ankle impingement.